Calling someone a 'chav'

[GuardianOfMyGalaxy]

Aibu to think that the word 'chav' is derogatory and shouldn't be used?

It's said in the baby name boards a lot, and to me, describing something as 'chav' or 'chavvy' is in the same manner as describing something as pikey or ghetto.

Am I being over sensitive and it's just banter, or is it as classist and stereotypical as I believe?

But because it's not 'racist' language it can be thrown around and defended by people like empire be fair now, I wasn't even defending it. I explained why and what context I used it, because that the only way I have ever heard it used. I also put in a badge saying 'thick twat' that was so kindly given. I get when I am wrong.

Racism refers to a variety of practices, beliefs, social relations, and phenomena that work to reproduce a racial hierarchy and social structure that yield superiority, power, and privilege for some, and discrimination and oppression for others.

Social racism/structural racism does exist within each race. Looking down and being derogatory to subset of your own race, because you think you're better than them.

and very specifically referred to teenagers who wore tracksuits, bling, burberry caps and big trainers.

I agree only it's now leggings and trainers cropped tops

Whatever the age it's a fashion statement nothing more

I suppose no different to mods rockers Emos hippies

Denot a trend and possibly music

absolutely different Astro.

There is no such thing as social racism. Let's not muddy further already very murky waters with pseudo terminology that's makes bollocks all sense.

'Tis handy to talk sense in the first place when wanting to get your argument across.

It's classist and pretty derogatory. However it originated. I hear "naice" mc friends use it and wince. I'm sure that I can be classist at times but at least try to be a bit self aware.
I don't think it is racist in this area, here it is seems to veer in meaning between footballers wife and council estate crackhead. Still pretty offensive!

I would think it, but not use the term to describe a place, or a look or an item. Wouldn't use it to describe a person usually

It's a Romany gipsy word meaning baby/child not sure how it got bastardised I to current meaning though

Oops meant I do see houses on rightmove and think, hmm chavvy decor or pubs etc, but never use the term publicly. More likely to describe it as just not my taste...which is fair.

There may not be social racism, but there is socioeconomic discrimination

No one has told me what TOFF stands for. Gah!

Toff is a term for a posh person? Like boffin is a term for a smart person.

Oops meant I do see houses on rightmove and think, hmm chavvy decor or pubs etc, but never use the term publicly. More likely to describe it as just not my taste...which is fair.

As in more money than sense Flown which is what I'm sure you mean. And you know, sometimes that escalates to racism.

My teens and their friends bandy about 'chav' all the time to describe rough types on the bus or at school or whatever.

I can't be bothered to be bothered. I don't think it denotes a hatred of the lower classes, it's usually a description of antisocial, hooligan types - or certainly where my kids are concerned. The boys at my son's school that are always in trouble and smoke are known as the 'chavs'. He goes to a pretty snooty (another label) school, so it really isn't a name reserved for the WC.

If it wasn't chav, it would be something else and it's a bit unrealistic to think disparaging labels don't exist. It's no different to more old fashioned terms like oik or yob. It has always been thus.

So TOFF isn't an acronym then? It's just a word that stands for a posh person? What is a posh person then?

I don't believe toff is an acronym. I went to Cambridge and heard the word used all the time.

well maybe Buzz, you should educate your children a bit more, and explain to them that its an unpleasant term that is most often used by spoilt teenagers (and others) to ridicule those that they perceive to be less fortunate than they are.

it really isn't a name reserved for the WC.

The toilet? Really? CHAV'S are the toilet of society?

The word Kushti made famous by Del Boy is Romany also meaning good.

Elendon, apparently it is a derivation of tuft to refer to the gold tassel worn by oxbridge grads. As a linguist I'm ashamed to admit my source is wiki but it's a holiday and I have wine...

Ah. So if you go to Cambridge then you are a posh person. Is that it Phyllis?

Are you posh? Please explain posh! Does it mean rich? Or Landed Gentry? (you must remember LGs?).

Just checked - you only out the gold tuft if you are titled gentry

elendon just checked my OED for you. It suggests that the etymology of 'toff' is a corruption of 'tuft', a golden tassel that only the titled sons of peers were entitled to wear at Oxford. Definitely not an acronym.

So Toff is not derogatory then Apathy It's merely a signal of upper mobility. In terms of riches and intelligence.